Star code-hopper Sonny Bill Williams speaks to the media at the announcement of his one-year contract with NRL side Sydney Roosters.

GIVEN the gutless manner in which Sonny Bill Williams slunk out of rugby league in 2008, the least he could have done was humbly return, admit his past mistakes and hope, rather than expect, to be welcomed back.

Instead, the exceptionally talented footballer looked like a man sentenced to a year of community service when he announced yesterday he would join the Sydney Roosters on a one-year deal.

Williams acted like he was doing us a favour by coming back to the NRL. He didn't even have the decency to talk in glowing terms about rugby league, or how he missed the game he grew up playing.

Instead he spoke at length of his "love" for rugby union and how it was a tough decision to leave the other code.

He couldn't even feign interest in playing for New Zealand in next year's World Cup because, "I have to see how my boxing commitments are going".

If not for an agreement he made with his "mate" and Roosters chairman Nick Politis three years ago, Williams would never have returned to league and would have been happy to continue playing as an outside back in union.

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Williams thinks honouring a handshake with a mate makes up for walking out on a signed legal document four years ago.

Walking out on Canterbury is the hot topic he refuses to discuss. Greats like Hazem El Masri, who won a premiership with Williams in 2004, don't want him back in the NRL and believe he should apologise for the way he abandoned his teammates.

"Haz is entitled to his opinion and that is what I have to say about that," Williams said.

He just doesn't get it. No doubt he is a brilliant footballer but he knows nothing of good grace or gratitude towards a sport which kick-started his lucrative career.

Yesterday he had his chance to start afresh and to be thankful for his opportunity, but the best he could muster was that coming back to league was a "glass half-full" scenario.

Like a scorned ex-lover, the NRL should throw the contents of that glass back in his face and tell him he is not wanted.

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